~ My Journey

Monthly Archives: July 2013

Once again, a post from the hubster, about his experience at a HEAV session.

We were designed unique and special from God.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

This is how Diana Waring begins this seminar that explores the diverse types of learning styles for each student. For Waring this is critical for identifying and recognizing the learning styles in children. Waring informs parents the reality is that children are not the replica of their parents but are unique. In a presentation with a blend of animated powerpoint and rubber ducks, Waring provides an informative and fun way to look at the individual and how they learn and what are the best ways to teach them. Diana and her husband Bill have written and spoke on Christian homeschool and private education issues for over twenty years with recent books Beyond Survival and Reaping the Harvest.

Waring looks at 8 intelligences and 3 learning styles that provide an understanding of how these two modules can provide a better understanding of learning and teaching homeschooler. The 8 intelligences for a student:

Intrapersonal – Self-reflective, the gift of self-awareness

Interpersonal – Good with people and prefers to be in areas to bring people together

Naturalist – Observes nature, good with animals and learns from spending time outside

Musical – Music smart either by singing, listening, and or playing instrument

Spatial – Images, pictures, color, maps

Bodily/kinesthetic – Body/physique motor skills

Linguistic – word smart

Math – math and analytical logic

Society and culture focuses on the last two intelligences in linguistic and math, which are reflected in IQ tests and the standardized testing which is pervasive in public education. Waring warns to be careful in modeling only these intelligences, because it can damage and be disrespect to students who don’t fit in that box. She argues that students have strengths and weaknesses in the 8 intelligences and they can improve in weak areas. The older one gets the tendency is that one can get better in improving weak areas and strengthen gifted areas.

The ways students receive new information are learning modalities. The 3 learning modalities are represented in visual, auditory, and tactile/kinesthetic (touch). These learning modalities compliment the learning styles as learners can be thinkers, feelers, sensors, or intuitive. Thinkers tend to seek structure, feelers see things subjective, sensors like concrete projects done quickly and those that are intuitive are ones with ideas, creativity and love spontaneity. Both learning modalities and styles are important for parents because it helps identify the area for nurturing for the child.

If you’re homeschooling 3 kids, the likelihood is that you will have all different children with modalities, styles and intelligences for each child. Waring asks parents to look at these 3 areas to help match the right one with the learning style of each of their children and not fall in the trap of using the learning style the parent feels comfort for themselves for their child.

This was a dynamic presentation that brought together the diversity and gifts of our children. In this seminar Waring was able to provide a guide for parents take a deeper understanding on learning and teaching of their child and how complex and beautiful is the design of God in each individual. Diana Waring ‘s recent books, resources, curriculum, and video snippets can be found at dianawaring.com.

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Happy Monday Morning all! And no, I did not get out of bed before you. Ha! Actually, I wrote this Sunday afternoon, to make sure I got it done so you could read it first thing Monday morning!

These verses were the topic of our sermon this Sunday, and I thought I’d share them with you. Actually, I thought I’d share them with you in the way I heard them – almost like God was thumping me over the head with the message!

Understand this, dear mothers: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Mommy anger does not produce the righteousness God desires in you or your children. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your own lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your own hearts, for it has the power to save your souls, and the souls of your children. – James 1:19-21

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue with your family or anyone else around you, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. – James 1:26

Yeah, you see where I get convicted, right?

Patience has never been a virtue I’ve had in abundance. Apparently, God must have taken me at my word on day when I threw my hands up in the air and said, “God, grant me patience!” And what did he do? He gave me an ADHD husband and child, and well, just children in general. Sometimes it feels like God develops patience in me just like callouses are developed – rubbing abrasive substances on your nerves until they start to develop a thicker coat of skin!

A callus is a thick, hardened layer of skin that has developed as a means of protecting itself from repeated use. While calluses are protective, they can also be unsightly and irritating. However, if you repeat the activity that caused the calluses, they can redevelop once again. (ehow.com)

And when those callouses get a little thin, I tend to get “short.” Short in patience leads to short in temper. Which leads to short fuses and long, loud, irritated diatribes from Mommy. Even James here points out the obvious: anger does not produce the real heart changes you want.

I personally believe that Mommy’s spiritual state is the barometer of the family. In fact, I’ve seen evidence in our family: if I “take a few weeks off” from my own Bible study and prayer time, everyone else in the family is affected. I admit, since our Wednesday night Bible study has taken a few weeks of break, I have too. Since I started working again, even my Bible study has taken a back seat to “things that HAVE to get done” and ends up being squeezed into and leftover nooks and crannies. Satan so easily can make us mothers feel like our quiet time is OPTIONAL.

And man, has that optional-ness been making our house one cranky place lately. Of course, a lack of sleep and a super busy schedule hasn’t been helping much either.

Mommas out there, just like in an airplane, we’ve got to get our own oxygen masks on FIRST. Before we can breathe life into our own children’s lives, we’ve got to inhale the air God gives us to do that with!

Not that I believe my children’s faults and since are my own faults and sins (which leads to a sort of co-dependency), but I do believe, at least at their young age, that a mother’s influence and heart are strong. That’s why James is so literal and clear here. “Get rid of all the filth and evil in your own lives.” We need to be reminded constantly that our children are watching us as role models.

In addition, the how we handle those sins in our children can have great affect on on exactly what they learn. Are they learning to behave “or else?” Or are the lessons about living for God and in a way that pleases God (instead of what makes Mommy look good) truly being implanted?

It needs to go further than the outward showing of behavior, because frankly, kids are smart. They know if what we say is truly planted in our own hearts. When it’s not, they can smell the hypocrisy a mile away. Your religion, your outward trappings, literally become worthless.

So, this week I’m resolving to take my tongue under control. Not only do I plan to focus on be breathing in the Word of God and filling my life with His oxygen. I’m going to focus on breathing out that Word and that Love of God into my children’s days. At convention, Michelle Duggar says that she tries to praise each of her children 3-5 times per day. (Goodness, if she can do that for 19 children, I can certainly do that for two.) I’m looking forward to meditating on these verses in the next few days and see what more God has for me to learn.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Perhaps you’d like to join me in this challenge this week?

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Today, I have a guest blogger, the hubby! He wanted to join in and share some of his thoughts about the sessions he attended at HEAV’s convention this year.

Zan Tyler’s seminar, “How do I teach my young child to have a Biblical worldview?,” was the marrying of education and religion and the importance of homeschool education in having strong Christian roots early in the life of the child. She saw the homeschool movement as a Christian cultural revival in America. For Tyler, the most important part of homeschooling is the spirituality that is taught and instilled in children at a young age and shapes how they will see the world. She recognizes this as invisible elements that are not seen as clear as reading, writing, or arithmetic. As public education detaches itself from religious influence in education, churches will need to make a stronger commitment to blend both education and faith. Tyler uses the 3 R’s of homeschool education being revival in worship, relational in connecting the family and reformation as in changing culture.

How is this done? Tyler asks parents to use homeschool education to tell young children that God created the Heavens and the earth, God created us in his own image, and that God created family. This is important for Tyler in the development from birth to the age of 12. Tyler states, that it is at age 13 that the first spiritual indicators that impact their future faith. During this development time, Tyler asks parents to dialogue with their children and have a conversation with them about the universe, the meaning of truth, and other important themes of God and the world. Then it is important for parents to demonstrate the Christian worldview in their marriage, in worship and in developing family devotional time (this can be as easy as reading scripture and praying). In demonstrating the Christian worldview, a child should see a family that works, plays, learns and even fights together (A good life lesson for conflict resolution). Lastly, she asks parents to be aware and analyze the culture around them.

Tyler started homeschooling in 1984 and has served as an advocate for homeschooling through ParentalRights.org and is a South Carolina ambassador for the Home School foundation. Tyler is the Director for Apologia Press, a family based business that creates Christian homeschool curriculum and resources.

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The Proverbs 31 Woman (nasb)

Description of a Worthy Woman

An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.